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Top 6 Environmental Allergies

Allergies got you itching and sniffling? The culprit could be one of many airborne allergens you encounter at home, at work, or outdoors.

If you have environmental allergies, you may find yourself sniffling, sneezing, coughing, or itching — and it’s your surroundings that are causing the problem. Thankfully, you’re not doomed to days of misery. The key is to avoid or eliminate airborne allergens, which will help you get back to feeling your best. Here are six of the most common environmental allergies.

Pollen

Pollen, the airborne allergen behind hay fever, is one of the most common allergy triggers, and it is very difficult to avoid. “Most pollen allergy symptoms can be treated with avoidance measures,” says Summit S. Shah, MD, an allergist with Dublin Methodist Hospital in Ohio. “But it’s difficult to avoid outdoor allergy triggers like tree pollen or weed pollen, — unless you want to live in a bubble or on the moon!”

Most people can find relief with over-the-counter or prescription medication. “You can use a nasal steroid for sneezing and itching or an antihistamine for occasional post-nasal drainage or itchy eyes,” Dr. Shah says. “Ultimately, if your allergies and asthma are bad enough, you can explore the option of traditional allergy shots, which can rid you of nagging allergy symptoms for good.”

Dust Mites

Though pollen allergy is likely to attack when you’re outdoors, being allergic to dust mites puts you at risk of experiencing environmental allergies indoors, including in your own home. “Dust mites are microscopic creatures that are found in everyone’s mattresses, pillows, upholstered couches, and carpets,” Shah says. “They are not bed bugs and they do not bite. However, if you are allergic to them, they can cause significant issues with nasal congestion, sinus infections, headaches, and difficulty sleeping. Dust mites actually feed off dead human skin, so they are found in high volumes anywhere we tend to shed dead skin, such as mattresses and pillows.”

Good home hygiene can help reduce your exposure to dust mites. Change furnace and air conditioner filters regularly, and use high-quality pleated filters. “Using a home air purifier and getting air ducts cleaned out can do a lot to reduce these allergies,” says Walter J. Crinnion, ND, chairman of environmental medicine at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences in Tempe, Ariz. Dust mite covers made specifically for mattresses and pillows can also help fight allergy symptoms.

Pets and Animals

You don’t necessarily have to part with your pet in order to lower your exposure to this environmental allergen. “If pets can be made outdoor pets, then this will diminish your exposure to pet dander,” says Frederick M. Schaffer, MD, allergist, immunologist, and chief medical officer of United Allergy Labs. “Bathing pets weekly will reduce shedding and bring down your exposure to pollens, like grass, embedded in the animal’s fur.” Allergens are also found in your pet’s saliva and urine, so make sure to minimize your exposure to the cat litter box.

Mold and Mildew

If your allergies are more likely to act up during the fall months, they may be caused by mold and mildew. To reduce your exposure to outside mold spores, avoid piles of leaves, says Dr. Schaffer, and thin out dense vegetation or plant debris from areas near your home. Take these steps to reduce indoor mold spore exposure: Use a dehumidifier to decrease the humidity inside your home, limit the number of indoor plants, close windows when outdoor mold spore counts are high, and use HEPA air conditioning filters, changing them every month, recommends Schaffer.

Cigarette Smoke

Cigarette smoke is usually more of an irritant than an allergen, but it can cause problems for people with environmental allergies. “When someone has uncontrolled allergies or hay fever, the mucus membranes that line the inside of their nose, their sinuses, and their lungs are inflamed and thus hypersensitive,” Shah says. “We often find that patients with underlying seasonal allergies or pet allergies have difficulty around cigarette smoke and strong perfumes and soaps.” The best approach here is to avoid cigarette smoke entirely.

Cockroaches

“Cockroaches have been documented to cause severe asthma and bad allergies,” Shah says. “The actual allergenic substances come from their saliva and fecal matter.” Thoroughly cleaning and treating your home to remove cockroaches is the best course of action to eliminate this environmental allergy trigger.